The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-10
WHITE AND BLACK MASONS
How the Color Line Is Drawn in the
Greatest Secret Order in the World.
The Legality of the Organization of Colored
Knights Templars Disputed ly White
Members of the Order-The C0nclaye.

conclave of the grand jurisdiction of Ohio, re-
wives an interest in Masonry among the colored
people of the United States. White and colo-ed
lodges claim that the legality Of their existence
comes from the same source-the Grand Lodge
of England. The first American lodge formed
by either instituted in
Boston, the white lodge preceding that of the
colored Masons by ftty-four years. From this
fact of prece dence the white Masous assert that
their grand lodges and the lodges subordinate
thereto are the only legal Masonic bodies Of that
character in the United States. They operate
under the English charter granted in 1730,
while the coIored Masons received their charter
in 1884 The white Masons, on the ground that
but one grand jurisdiction can exist in the same
country deny the validity of this last charter
and give the coored Masons no recognition, al
though both bodies use the same work. have
the same degrees, signs and passwords
In England, however. the colored
Mason finds no difficulty in entering the lodges
of bis white brethren. He is received upon alb
solute Masonic equality, and is entitled to all
the privileges of the order. In this country the
anomaly is presented of the white members of
the order being recognized by the colored and
admitted to their lodges. while in return the
colored man finds no admittance staring him in
the face when he seeks recognition from white
lodge. Slavery. it is charged. had great deal
to dc with this. but with freedom from bondage
Masonic equality did not come. so the relations
between the two Grand Lodges about as
they were before emancipation was effected
Since the war colored Masonry has advanced
to great numbers. Before that period there
were a few of the race in the South who had Ma
sonic embership. but they were not enough to
very limited education of the men Immediately
following the war interfered with the progress Of
the order in that part of the country but within
recent years several grand lodges have been insti
tuted. and now instead of colored Masonry being
confined to the country north of Mason and
Dixon's line, there is not State where colored
subordir ate lodges do not ext list. In this matter
the race has been SO progressive that its Ma
s ,nic representation in this country now num-
Jers 200, 900 members.
While what is known as Blue Lodge Masonry
is thus making itself felt in the advancement of
the colored people the other branches of Masonry
are equally progressive Boston, a hun
dred years ago, had the first Blue Lodge, but in
the course of years the Masonic center for the
colored people was transferred to Pennsylvania.
It was in that State, during the first part of the
century, that the order thrived more than
in in any 1y.o other section of the North North:
Masonry was introduced among the negroes
of this country. Their first chapter and conn
mandery were established in Philadelphia in
that year Twenty years later and also in
Philadelphia, the first colored Americans be-
came members of the Scottish Rite. Since
then their Masonic branches have 1ourished
their white brethren OF the Scottish Rite, has
for fifteen years been maintained with
more less earnestness. This follows
from question as to validity of charters.
The colored Scottish Rite Masons. who claim a
regularity of membership and legality of jurs-
dction trace their relations to the Supreme
Masonry. rests it's claims upon English char
ter. The division has been a source of contin-
ued discussion and has added volume after vol
t ume 10 Inc ,o 90 c0ipreo MASONRY
street. this morning. John G. Jones
an attorney of Chicago will address his people
Masonry as applied to colored men. He says he
has incontrovertible proof to establish the
regularity and legality of the Philadelphia
institution in 1850. His proof consists mainly
of recent letters from the Supreme Council of
France. which he will for the first time to-day
present to the public. Mr.. Jones Is one of the
highest colored Masons in the United States,
he having taken the thirty third degree. He is
the only one Of his west of Philadelphia
who has reached this Masonic distinction.
The colored Knights Templars have not had
legality OF the Scottish Rite bodies. Since 1880
they have gradually increased in membership
and influence until commandery exists in
every city or town where there is considerable
of their race. In the South. as we'll
rs in the North, within the past twenty years
the order has made great progress. It has not
but the commandery in this city has a large and
Influential membership. In Pennsyi-
and Massachusetts, the Knight: 49,. are are
present conclave will give their Indiana interests
such an impetus that the membership here and
elsewhere in the State will be greatly increased
in the next few years. The indianapolis Knights
Lave given great attention to those things de-
manded by the preparation for the event, and
all day yesterday their committees were busy in
and caring for visiting Communicates.
The jurisdiction of Ohio extends over that State,
Indiana, Illinois. kentucky and Tennessee. in all
of which there are twenty-one communicates,
with knighthood of 500 more. OF these or
fully one half will be represented in
body as veil as by delegates at this
:oncIave. All. of course. have delegates,
and up to late hour last night com manderies in
'ull uniform had arrived from Cincinnati, Cleve-
and. Toledo, Springfield. GAINESVILLE and Xenia
D.. Pittsburg Pa, Louisville, KY, Nashville.
Tenn, and Chicago. Ill.
No business was transacted Yesterday but in
The afternoon the eminent grand commander.
Alex Morris, of Louisville. deliv cred his address.
The business session will begin this morning
and continue until noon. A line of several hun
ired Knights will be formed at o'clock at the
corner of Delaware and Washington streets, and
hen move to Meridian. thence to Maryland,
last Market to Meridian and out
Meridian to Seventh. thence to Alabama. and up
Alabama to the Exposition grounds. A prize
irl will take place there at $50 o'clock. and at
o'clock dress parade will occur In the even
ing the communicates winning the prizes will
rive exhibition drill. Thursday the business
session will occur. and in the evening a grand
banquet will take place at Tomlinson Hail. at
which 800 plates will be laid
Last ening the visiting Knights, with the
olered peo pie of this city, attended the concert
If Madame Selika, of Columbus, o., who sang
lnder the auspices of the Indianapolis Com
nandery. The Madame has voice of rare
power which has undergone rigid cultivation in
European schools Its expression is rich aud
'aried. Her efforte were received with the
7armest enthusiasm leading after each of her
numbers encores. in response to which she
aug charming ballads The Madame was as
listed by S. w. Williams. baritone; @. T. Simp-
on. tenor; j. B. Cameron. cornet solost and
louis Vogt violinist.
MIXING RELIGION Al D REST.